Brake mechanism for electric street-cars



(No ModeLT J. I RTH 8; A, M. BAKER- BRAKE MEGHANISM'POR ELECTRIC STREET CARS.

No. 484.06 Patented Aug. 12, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSHUA ILLINGlVORTI-l AND AMOS M. BAKER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

BRAKE MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC STREET-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,063, dated August 12, 1890.

Application filed May 5, 1890- Serial No. 350,699. (No model.)

' invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brake Mechanism for Electric Street- Oars; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in brake mechanism for electric street-cars in which the momentum of the armature is utilized in setting the brakes whereby the car is retarded by the action of the brake-shoes on the car-wheel, so that little ornostrain is sustained by the gearing that connects the armature-shaft with the car-axle;

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis an elevation, partly in section, of an armature, friction-clutch, and mechanism for operating the clutch. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing more especially the running-gear ,of the car. Fig. 3 is a plan in diagram. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are enlarged views in detail, Figs. 4 and 5 being elevations, the former partly in section, and Fig. 6 being a plan.

A represents the body of the car; B, the car-wheels; O, the armature, and O the armature-shaft. To the one end of the armatureshaft, preferably the end opposite the gears, is rigidly attached the male member 0 of a friction-clutch. This member overhangs the shaft and has an internal flange c at the outer extreme thereof, this flange being separated, say an inch, (more or less,) from the end of the armature-shaft.

D is a short shaft or round bar that fits easily inside of flange c, this shaft having a head D located between flange c and the end of the armature-shaft. The one journal-bearing for the armature-shaft is supposed to be at c, and the outer end of shaftD is supposed to be supported by a bracket arm or any suitable device connected with the frame-Work, whatever it may be, that supports the armature, and as shaft D does not revolve on its axis the only requisite in supporting this shaft is that it be kept in line with the armature-shaft.

On shaft D is mounted with an easy fit the female member cl of the clutch, the periphery of member at being provided with sprocket-teeth d for engaging an endless chain f. The outer face of member at is recessed at d for receiving with an easy fit heads E of sleeve E, member 01 being provided with a cap d that fits outside of head E, these parts fitting loosely, so that member 01 may turn without turning the sleeve. Sleeve E has an easy fit on shaft D for the purpose of moving this sleeve endwise on the shaft.

This shaft has a long mortise or slot D in which operates a link G. The link has a diagonal slot 9, adapted tostraddle pin or bolt D of shaft D. Sleeve E is slotted at e to receive link G with an easy fit.

H is a rock-shaft extending lengthwise of the car and suspended from the car-body by suitable brackets, the shaft being provided at the extremes thereof with hand-levers H for operating the same, these hand-levers being located preferably next beside the dashboards a a. Shaft H has a laterally-projecting rock-arm h, that is pivoted to link G, so that by moving levers H laterally link G is depressed or elevated to open or close the friction-clutch. With the construction shown, and by reason of bolt or pin D operating in the inclined or diagonal slot g, it is evident that when the link is depressed it will crowd the sleeve toward the armature and thus close the clutch, and that the reverse will occur when the link is elevated.

I is a lateral shaft supported by suitable journal-boxes depending from the car, this shaft bearing a sprocket-Wheel I, that is engaged by endless chain f aforesaid. This shaft is provided with a small drum 1', on which may be wound in either direction chain 2", the latterconnecting with the brake-leverJ.

The brake mechanism is substantially as heretofore used, comprising, in the main, brake-beams K, provided with brake-shoes k, the brake-beams being supported by the link and provided with springs for backing off the brake-shoes, all of which are so well known that it is not considered necessary further to illustrate or describe them. Lever J is pivoted at J, and rods jj connect this lever with the brake-beams in the manner shown in the diagram. By operating lever H the frictionclutch is opened or closed. When the clutch ICO v is closed, whereby shaft I is set in motion to wind up chain 1" for setting the brakes, the momentum of the armature is utilized in setting the brakes, and the brakes in turn stop the car, by which arrangement there is little or no strain or Wear on the gearing that connects the arn1ature-shaft with the oar-axle.

Heretofore where brakes have been set by hand or have been operated by mechanism connected with one of the car-axles the momentum of the armature had to be overcome by the gearing, thus causing backlash and much noise and wear, all of which is overcome by our improved construction.

With the construction shown it is evident that there is no end strain on the armatureshaft in opening and closing the clutch, for the reason that the pressure applied to sleeve E is sustained by the shaft D and the latter being coupled with the armature-shaft.

hat we claim is.-

1. The combination, with brake mechanism,

' of an armature and means by which the momentum of the latter may be utilized to operate the brake mechanism, substantially as set forth.

2. In brake mechanism for electric streetcars, in combination, an armature, the shaft thereof bearing the one member of a frictionclutch, the opposing member of the clutch being operatively connected with the brake mechanism of the car, suitable means, preferably as shown, being provided for opening and closing the clutch, substantially as set forth.

4;. The combination of armature-shaft cou-- pled with the stationary shaft, the former bearing the one member of afriction-clutch and the latter bearing the other member of the clutch and bearing a sleeve for operating the latter, the shaft and sleeve being slotted to receive a link, and the link having a diagonal slot fitting astride the pin of the shaft, means for raising and lowering the link for shifting the sleeve endwise, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with an armature for propelling a street-car, of a clutch or brake mechanism for retarding the momentum of the armature, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we sign this specification, in the presence of two witnesses, this 2d day of May, 1890.

JOSHUA ILLINGVVORTH. AMOS M. BAKER.

Witnesses:

C. H. DoRER, WILL B. SAGE. 

